Woffman

Q: strange patterns around icons and menus

Does anyone know what causes/curesthis?  Love my old iMac G5.  Don't use it much but keep it running for sentimental reasons.  It was my first... :-)

 

iMacG5.jpg

Mac mini, OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Jun 10, 2014 8:21 PM

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Q: strange patterns around icons and menus

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  • by K Shaffer,Helpful

    K Shaffer K Shaffer Jun 11, 2014 9:31 AM in response to Woffman
    Level 6 (14,355 points)
    Desktops
    Jun 11, 2014 9:31 AM in response to Woffman

    Could be a graphics processor/card issue, and those are affixed to the logic board.

     

    Some users had them serviced, but due to the age of the computer, some have not.

    What OS X version is running on your G5 iMac PPC, and which model build is it?

     

    There are companies who could repair or may have a replacement/repaired logic

    board or other components in stock, you'd have to check to see if the costs are

    worth the effort, since many would take the bare board in as core, or for repair...

    And unskilled attempts to extract just the board may cause additional issues.

     

    Depending on the model you could probably find one relatively inexpensive in a

    good state of working order, perhaps even a repaired on with limited warranty

    at some sites such as powermax, wegenermedia, and others who have old gear

    that also offer repair services and replacement parts.

     

    A proper diagnostic may be performed, to narrow the cause of this issue further.

    If you are within proximity of an Apple Store with Genius bar, you could call ahead

    and ask about setting an appointment to see a Genius about a diagnostic on this

    G5 iMac; and see what they say. In the US and Canada (perhaps elsewhere in

    other countries or regions) the diagnostic is free, even on those w/ no AppleCare.

     

    So that may be an option; or at least something to do before looking for a restored

    intel-based iMac, or a newer model that can run a later OS X than the PPC series.

     

    The Apple Store won't be able to offer repairs, or likely won't, on such obsolete items.

    But they can do some diagnostic tests and offer suggestions about other options.

    Also, the Apple Authorized Service providers could repair older models if they choose

    but getting parts for them is increasingly difficult. So there's places who seek them out

    and who repair vintage and obsolete; up to a point, that is.

     

    Good luck!

  • by Allan Jones,Helpful

    Allan Jones Allan Jones Jun 11, 2014 11:05 AM in response to Woffman
    Level 8 (35,151 points)
    iPad
    Jun 11, 2014 11:05 AM in response to Woffman

    As your desktop image and the open window are not affected, I suspect it may not be the graphics chipset. Does it persist after a restart?

     

    See if an SMU reset changes anything:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1767